Wow. This place completely caught me off guard -- in the best way…read more It's been this close to home and somehow I never stopped in until today. That won't happen again. Everything was rich, savory, and deeply comforting. The rice was fluffy and aromatic, the kebabs were perfectly seasoned with that smoky char you want, and the fresh pita sealed the deal. Even the garlic sauce had that addictive, can't-stop-dipping quality. And the flatbread? Soft, warm, and layered with flavor. Portions are generous, flavors are authentic, and nothing felt rushed or watered down for the masses. Come here only if you love food that actually tastes like someone cares. This one's officially in the rotation.

Stopped in with a friend to grab lunch, we both ordered a beef Shawarma plate, which comes with a…read moreside of basmati rice, pita bread, pickled turnips, and the we got to choose one which we both chose the Mediterranean salad. Everything tasted so delicious. The salad was so fresh and light. I would definitely come here again. There's pretty big portions so I ended up saving the rest for my husband. The service was excellent, so very welcomed and attended to by the staff. There is plenty of seating inside and the AC was running, which was nice since it was a hot afternoon.

I have been recommended by many of my friends to try Mal Al Sham for some really great food…read more And all recommendations were proven true. Parking lot can be a challenge as it can get quite full and tight , however , down the street there can be another opportunity for parking I sat down inside and ordered a mixed grill entree ( one chicken kebob skewer , one beef tikka skewer and one chicken tikka skewer ) which came with rice and salad w/ the option to substitute the rice with fries however no salad As i was waiting, i could not help but be amazed at the beautiful white marble tables and the ceiling designs the interior of the store so proudly displayed , the wafts of the charcoal smoke fuming inside the restaurant intensified my salivation. My food arrived and i grabbed a lemon slice and squeezed a droplet of lemon juice on each little bite of skewer meat. I started off with the chicken and i couldn't believe how much moisture was retained on the inside while the outside was perfumed perfectly with the smoke of the charcoal. The tikkas and their ratios of meat were pristine and i could not help but feed heaping full spoons of the ever so seasoned rice to my mouth. If i was born Arabic in a previous life , my taste buds affirmed the possibilities as i ate here tasting the flavors of Damascus شكراً

The Arrival & Atmosphere The parking lot can be a bit tight,…read morebut don't let that discourage you. We managed it by having part of our group jump out to get in line while we waited for a spot, a strategy that worked perfectly since we were seated within just a few minutes of walking in. The restaurant itself is beautiful, featuring clean white marble and modern lighting. It has a high-energy, "efficient ship" vibe. The staff is everywhere, and you'll hear a "symphony" of shouted orders and instructions that makes the whole place feel alive and incredibly productive. Seeing the constant stream of people picking up to-go orders was our first clue that the food was going to be excellent. The Food We ordered for a party of seven and found the portions to be very generous: The Platter for 3: This was the perfect way to sample five different types of kebabs. Every meat was seasoned beautifully and cooked to perfection. This came with a salad. The Qouzi: This was the standout for me. It's a unique dish with a wonderful blend of textures, the crunch of fried almonds on top paired with massive chunks of stewed lamb. The lamb was so incredibly tender I could literally cut it with a spoon! To top it all off, they offer free Arabic tea, which was the perfect finishing touch to a heavy, savory meal. Final Verdict It's rare to find a place that is this busy yet runs with such precision. Great food, beautiful ambiance, and a lively atmosphere. My family and I will definitely be back!

Haven't been here in years, decided to take a trip to El Cajon to have lunch at this mom and pop…read moremiddle eastern restaurant with my mom and pop. They definitely invest their time on the taste of their food and serving large portion sizes instead of fancy tables and decor. It's not upscale fine dining... the interioir looks the exact same for past decade. Although a little dated the place is very clean and fits large or small groups. Not a date night spot -- more a friends and family stuff your face kind of place. They have a dedicated parking lot with plenty of spots. We ordered a ton of food to share. Half roasted chicken with side of fatoush salad, beef kabob plate with side of rice, lamb tikka with side of fries, a large plate of hummus, and an order of falafel (Best Falafel in SoCal). EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! I personally didn't like the lamb tikka but everyone else destroyed that plate. We ordered a pot of black tea (mint flavored) and they brought our large pieces of steaming hot fresh bread. Service was very friendly and fast. They modified any order to your liking. They also thanked us for coming and meant it when they said it -- Mom and Pop shops are The Best! Highly Recommend if you're looking for good quality middle eastern food with large portions.

The location is right on the corner you can't miss it. They have their own small parking lot. There…read moreis a lot of similar restaurants in the area that we have tried. They just don't compare. The quality and flavors are out of this world. The inside is very cute. it is clean and welcoming. We enjoy lunch dates and dinner here as a family. The owners are very friendly. Definitely recommend the lunch for 2. FYI it feeds 4 people easily. Dinner for 3 feeds 6-7. Large portions. The hummus is soooooooo good. Pro tip: ask for extra olive oil. Give this place a try!

This place is A MUST if you are a lover of all things shawarma…read more Tuesday specials are amazingly affordable w lots of delicious food (three meals more me)

Loved this! Delicious food & massive portions. The kindest owner & staff who were super kind &…read moregracious hosts. Came in a bit earlier for dinner, so wasn't busy & pretty much empty, very spacious & clean. Ordered a beef shawarma bowl to split, and it was honestly the size of a platter!! Deliciously fresh salad, tasty rice, and a mound of exquisitely seasoned beef! The pita & garlic sauce were a hit & couldn't get enough of it. The lentil soup was delightful too! Cannot wait to go back!

Really wanted to love this place, but...First the fries were served cold. I should have said…read moresomething. On the positive The Wagyu Pita wrap was up to its hype. The Chicken Shawarma bowl had too much rice and not enough chicken. I will try again when it's less busy.

I decided to visit this location for a late lunch during the week. I was so busy at work that I had…read moreto not had an opportunity to get lunch. I was able to sign off at 330p and head over to this location. The place was empty and there were clean tables and floors when I walked in. I was greeted by the lady behind the counter, and she had a smile on her face. I ordered the beef & chicken shawarma plate, Wagyu Beef eggrolls, and a bottled drink. My food was freshly prepared. I received my order in 7-10 minutes. It smelled wonderful. I paid for extra yogurt sauce and left to take my food to-go. When I arrived home, I enjoyed a delicious meal. Everything was prepared with great flavor, portions, and care. I had the garlic sauce and the yogurt sauce with my meal. This place is one of my favorites. I have been eating their food since the Southpark Truck days, phenomenally delicious. Thanks!

This place was such a treat, lots of parking in and as soon as you open the door you can smell the…read moremeats and seasoning. Everything was delicious and the staff was very friendly. Restroom was very clean and they had lots of options. The bread was soft and so good. Will definitely be back next time we are in town They gave us a side of cabbage and pickles and wow!!!!!!! They were so good

I think this is a Iraqi and Chaldean restaurant...but I'm absolutely certain you'll get delicious…read moremiddle eastern food for reasonable prices! There is not much atmosphere, no fake smiling service employees but they'll be efficient and attentive if you get their attention. All meals come with a warm creamy yellow lentil soup...delightful! $16 Chicken Schwarma plate...HUGE! A humongous generous portion of juicy, succulent, tender, seasoned chicken on top of seasoned rice. Some lovely, garlickly, fluffy bread is served along as a carb buddy, alongside some tomatoes and pickled cabbage(Iraqi Kim Chee Saurkraut?). $16 Roasted Chicken Plate...half chicken, crispy skin, moist and succulent meat, yum! Came with a tomato bean soup. Food came out extremely fast, yet seemed very fresh and prepared expertly! Great place to eat before a show at the Magnolia, so long as you don't need ambience and Applebees/Chili's/TGI Fridays style service.

I loved this place! The night before coming here for takeout, I had Mediterranean food down at…read moreSeaport Village. It was tasty and satisfying... but this place BLEW MY MIND. The moment I walked in, I was warmly greeted and asked if I wanted a table for one. I said no, I was hoping to order takeout, and she kindly invited me to sit at the bar while I looked over the menu. Right away, the atmosphere felt welcoming, beautiful, and relaxed. I ordered my food, sipped my water, and honestly didn't think I had ordered that much. Then she came out with multiple filled brown bags of food! First of all, the prices were amazing. Second... the food was TOP NOTCH and completely different from what I had the night before. Everything was packed with flavor without being overloaded with salt. Fresh, vibrant, rich, and incredibly satisfying. The waitress/hostess was knowledgeable, friendly, and gave great recommendations on what to try. You can tell the staff truly cares about the experience. I will absolutely be back the next time I visit San Diego again. And not that I recommend eating while driving ... but the next day on my drive back to Ventura County, I spread out my leftovers and happily snacked on hummus, baba ghanoush, and dolma all the way home. That alone says everything about how good this place was.

There are restaurants you visit, and then there are places you feel, where the intention behind…read moreevery dish is unmistakable from the moment you walk in. That was my experience at NEY. From the first bite, it was clear this isn't just food, it is craft. You can taste the care, the precision, and the pride. Every element felt thoughtfully prepared, balanced, and deeply satisfying without trying too hard. The standout for me was the biryani, comforting, and perfectly executed. But everything impressed. The tzatziki was bright and refreshing, the hummus topped with beef shawarma was rich and flavorful, and the ney classic plate was generous enough to easily feed two, maybe even three, without sacrificing quality anywhere on the plate. It was the perfect way to try a lot of their items at once and that one disappointed! What really says it all is that I am already looking forward to the leftovers, which is rare for me. This is the kind of place that stays with you, not just because it is good, but because you can feel the heart behind it.

I've been here twice now and both were really great experiences. Staff were friendly and super…read morehelpful, and the food was so delicious. Lots of seating and it was cool to see there's outdoor seating as well. Ended up with the boiled eggs breakfast plate (everything so good) and finally tried the sucuklu yumurta which was quite filling. It is a bit pricey, but the food was well worth it. Thanks so much!

The food was delicious, I had the chicken Kabob & the portion was good. Would definitely recommend…read moreand come back soon

So delicious! The food was bursting with flavor, and the freshness and quality of the ingredients…read morereally stood out. My dear cousin who normally does not like lentil soup, tasted my soup, and absolutely loved it! And regarding the service, we were so spoiled by ielaria and nahrien. They treated us like family. I highly recommend coming here. Plus, the price is good for amount and quality of food.

it is a sad day when a place that I have loved over the last four years changes management and…read moreeverything slowly changes for the worse. I was so excited to get myself a VEAL kebab for my birthday lunch and I was served a plate of fat... not sure if it was cooked properly... you can immediately tell. I'm extremely disappointed at this $15 dish... not worth it. You can get a cheaper fatty piece of steak from Albertson's. On the positive side, the chicken still taste amazing and so does the fattoush. The lentil soup was good as well.. very flavorful.

This place is hella awesome & authentic! Hent works behind the counter & she can cook and she is…read morereally nice! We had the Chipotle Chicken Shawarma & Lemon Cilantro Beef Shawarma. Both were so good. The dishes were generously portioned and flavorful. The baklava was also delicious! Don't leave without trying some of these treats. The dining room is not fancy, but it is clean and functional. I did not visit the restroom so I cannot comment on it. Pay this place a visit, you will be delighted and this will be your new favorite Shawarma spot! Peace.

We ended up here around 9:30 PM, absolutely starving after driving all the way from Los Angeles--so…read moreexpectations were high and patience was low. Thankfully, this place delivered on every level. The food was incredible--fresh, flavorful, and exactly what we needed after a long drive. Everything came out quickly without sacrificing quality, which we really appreciated. What truly made the experience stand out, though, was the service. Abdullah took great care of us from start to finish. He gave spot-on recommendations, made sure everything came out fresh, and kept things moving without ever making us feel rushed. He clearly knows the menu and genuinely cares about the experience. Highly recommend checking this place out--and definitely ask for Abdullah. He's your guy. We'll absolutely be back.